The crisis rocking Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) worsened yesterday following the purported impeachment of the chairman, Barrister Mobolaji Ojibara.

A faction of the association in a statement signed by the Assistant Secretary of the branch, Mr. Yahaya Alajo, said the chairman was impeached at a general meeting attended by over 50 members but the embattled chairman told newsmen that it was not true.

The statement by the anti-Ojibara faction stated that the motion for the impeachment was moved by 16 members and seconded by 18 members.

According to the group, the impeachment motion was not opposed by any member including the impeached chairman who attended the meeting.

It added that since the chairman refused to react to allegations of financial recklessness, abuse of office and subversion of the association's bye law, levelled against him, Ojibara remains impeached.

Ojibara and his loyalists later addressed newsmen in the state capital to denounce the claim, saying all those behind the move have been suspended from the association indefinitely.

The chairman said contrary to the claims by his opponents, the congress of the association passed a vote of confidence on him and recommended members of the immediate past executive council of the association led by the chairman, Rafiu Balogun who are believed to be behind the impeachment moves, for investigation by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

"Their offences include suspected false and fraudulent accounting and their respective roles in causing the branch unprecedented financial embarrassment and loss in the guise of reconstruction of the Bar Centre of the branch among others," they said.

The group led by the embattled chairman also agreed to forward their names to the disciplinary committee of the association. But the immediate past chairman said he was disturbed with happenings in the association, arguing that contrary to claims by the Ojibara group, Article 25 of the NBA Constitution clearly states that congresses cannot be held in August and December.